Tour news: Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS to return to Auckland

<i>Cats</i> as the West End revival heads to our shores, opening at Auckland's Civic Theatre in September.

Long before lolcats became a thing, Andrew Lloyd Webber brought our feline friends to the forefront of popular culture with his record-breaking musical Cats

If you grew up in the 80s, you'll be well familiar with the hit soundtrack spawned by the show, including Memory, McCavity: The Mystery Cat and Mr Mistoffelees.

Now, a new generation of fans can experience the unique magic - and unitards - of Cats as the West End revival heads to our shores, opening at Auckland's Civic Theatre in September.

Updated for the 21st century, the revival now features a rapping Rum Tum Tugger, who also breakdances.

Indeed, Lloyd Webber believes rap is a natural progression for the show, which is based on the collection of poems Old Possum's Book Of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot.

"I've come to the conclusion, having read Eliot again, that maybe Eliot was the inventor of rap," he says.

The show opens on September 11 and runs for a strictly limited season.

Tickets go on sale Friday, May 29 at 5pm.

Meanwhile, talking of big stage show blasts from the past, Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games is headed to Auckland's Civic on August 18 and Wellington a week later.

The new show from the Michael Flatley's Irish dance empire promises holographs, dancing robots, world champion acrobats, 34 dancers, a new score and choreography, new costumes and special effects lighting. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.

- TimeOut